Treatment of fabrics



April 21, 1936. M. M. KASANOF TREATMENT OF FABRICS 2 Sheets-Sheei; 1

INVENTOR,

Filed Nov. '7, 1932 ATTO RNE April 21, 1936. M. M. KASANOF TREATMENT OFFABRICS Filed Nov. 7, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVIENTOR V .7

ATTORNEY M BY Patented Apr. 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATE NT orric sApplication. November 7, 1932, Serial No. 641,521

4 Claims.

My present invention relates. generally to the treatment of fabrics forpurposes-such as drying, shrinking, bleaching and similar operations.

I: haveillustrated my invention as employing an apparatus particularly.adaptedand intended for the fluid treatment of'fabrics in tubular form.

Among the general objects of: my invention are the provision of anvarrangement whereby the treatment: of the fabric may be. variedinaccordance with the requirements ofthe particular fabric being treated,and: of an arrangement whereby the treatment maybe controlled to varythe effects to be produced on any given fabric.

Other objects are: the provision ofan arrangement whereby a fabricmoving across astream of treating. fluid. mayhave a substantial portionof it exposed to thefiuid at any given moment; the provision of anarrangement whereby all portions of the fabric are subjected to thetreatment for a.

substantial time interval; the provision. of an arrangement whereby theresistance offered to the movement of. the fabric during treatment isminimized; the provision of an arrangement whereby the area of fabricexposed atone. time may be varied so that a changein the time oftreatmentmay be effected; the provision of an arrangement whereby theshrinking or stretching and other changes-of form of the fabric. duringtreatment may be controlled; the provision of an arrangement whereby aselected. treating fluid or a combination of treating fluids may be.used; the provision of an arrangementwhereby the treating fluid isdischarged'freely and with little resistance, and effectivelydistributed with. relation to the I fabric; the provision of. anarrangement whereby the treating fiuid is prevented from escapingthrough passages other than those intended for its discharge; and theprovision of an arrangement whereby condensed moisture or other mattermay be convenientlyv separated from the treating fluid before itsapplication to the fabric.

Inthe specific embodiment herein disclosed, I

show the employment of two members to form the end walls of the treatingchamber, the side en 3 closure for the chamber being formed by thefabric itself as it is moved during the treating process and Iattainsome of the objects of my invention by spacing these two membersa. substantial distance apart so as. to expose to the action of. thetreating fluid a substantial fabric length,..so that the. fabricportions are subject to treatment by the treating fluids during a verysubstantial portion of the movement ofithe fabric, and therefore for avery substantial time.

I attain still" further objects of 'the invention by makingthesetwomembers relatively adjustable so as to vary the length ofthetreating chamber,, and therefore of the fabric length exposed-totreatment. As a consequence the: time during which any one portion ofthe fabric. is. exposed may be varied to suit a: given kind of fabric orto produce adesired effect, and it isalso obvious that by increasing thearea exposed atonetime, the speed of travel ofthe fabric maybe increasedwithout changing the: character of. thetreatment, and thereby the. totaltime of treat ment may be shortened.

These'two end members serve the additional. function of guiding thefabric during itstravel,

and I attain still further objects of my invention by so contouring themas to subject the fabric to a minimized resistance to its travel tliereover andfor treatment purposes, and also to a minimum of. injury tothe fabric. By using membersof various sizes and contours, the shrinkingor stretching. of the fabric may be controlled.

I. attain other objects of the invention by discharging the treatingfluid into the treating chamber instead 7 of directly from aperturesthrough the fabric thereby causing it to spread. before it passesthroughthe fabric so that-the resistance to discharge is-lessened and a.greater area of .fabric penetrated by the fluidthan if the dischargewere directly from the nozzles throughthe fabric. v p

I further provide, for the attainment of other objects, a speciallyconstructed end member for the. treating. chamber; whereby leakage,waste of. treating fluid, and. ineffective treatment ofthe. fabric isprevented.

By the provision of a peculiar discharging arrangement, Iain able tocontrol the moisture contentof the treating fluid, it being-understoodthat. in using the term moisture I mean not merely condensedwater-vapor, but also condensed matter of. other kinds.

When it isdesired to dry. a fabric, air, either. hot or. cold;willordinarily be used, and when it is desired tcstretch or shrink thefabric, steam may be used. Myinvention also providesfor the use of. amixture. of steam and air..

It will be understood, however,.that the term fluid is not to be.considered'as restricted'to these particular fluidsunless specificallycalled for by the language of the claims.

It willbe obvious that changes in. the. details hereinafter describedand illustrated for the purpose of. explaining the nature. of. myinvention may bemade by those skilled! in. the. art withoutdepartingfrom the spirit. and. scope ofmy. in-

vention as expressed in the appended claims. It is therefore intendedthat these details be interpreted as illustrative merely and not in alimiting sense. It is further to be understood that while I havedescribed and illustrated embodiments which attain all of the enumeratedobjects, embodiments may be employed that utilize only some or even onlyone of the objectives, and not all of them.

For the attainment of these objects and such other objects as mayhereinafter appear or be pointed out, I have illustrated one embodimentof my invention in the drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a front elevation showing one illustrative embodiment of myinvention;

Figure 2 is a section, on a greatly enlarged scale, on line 2--2 ofFigure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Figure 3 is an elevational view of another em bodiment of my invention;

Figure 4 is an exploded view of certain details of my invention;

Figure 5 shows a modified form of the discharge openings by which thefluid is emitted into the treating chamber;

Figure 6 is a sectional view on line 6-6 of Figure 5, looking in thedirection of the arrows; and

Figure 7 is an elevational view of a modified form of end member,portions beingbroken away to more clearly disclose the construction.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be observed that the chamber hereshown for treating a tubular fabric III, is constituted by the spacedmembers 20 and 2I which form the ends of such chamber, and by the fabricI0 itself, which forms the outer walls of the chamber.

For purposes of treatment the fabric is caused to move over the members20 and 2I and during such motion, a treating fluid is admitted into thechamber and discharged through the walls of the fabric. Theeffectiveness of the treatment obviously depends on the length of timeduring which a given portion of the fabric is exposed to the action ofthe fluid, and such time of exposure will depend on the speed at whichthe fabric moves in relation to the fluid and on the area of fabricexposed at one time. This area depends on the size of the treatmentchamber. For example, by spacing the members 20 and 2I eight feet apartand moving the fabric at the rate of four feet per second, any givenportion of the fabric will be exposed for two seconds, while if thespacing is only four feet, the exposure will be only one second.

For these reasons I provide an arrangement whereby the members 20 and 2Imay be widely separated and thereby provide a relatively elongatedtreating chamber. And further, I make the spacing adjustable, so thatthe area of fabric exposed to treatment may be varied within wide limitsand the treatment thereby adapted to obtain various effects on variousfabrics, without resorting to the expedient of varying the speed of thefabric. It is of course obvious that this speed also may be varied ifdesired and still further flexibility of control attained thereby.

The adjustability of the spacing of members 20 and 2| is attained bymaking at least one of them adjustable in relation to the other one, andin the disclosure I have shown both of them adjustable. I

The members 20 and 2| are shown as provided with annular flanges 25 forthe twofold purpose of securing a minimum area of contact between saidflanges and the fabric as it is led thereover, so as to reduce friction,and of providing a smooth and rounded surface which will not causeinjury to the fabric. The guide members are further shown as mounted onsplit collars 32 and. 33, each adjustable on the conduit II, which isshown as passing centrally through the treating chamber, and as beingprovided with apertures I4, through which the treating fluid may bedischarged into the chamber.

The conduit I I is shown closed at its top, as by cap I6 and asconnected, in any suitable man ner, such as by the fitting I2, closed bycap I211, to a supply pipe I3, by which the treating fluid is led fromits source to the conduit II and discharged through apertures I4. Aplatform 60 may be provided through which the conduit passes and belowwhich are located the'supply pipe I3 and its auxiliary parts. Thisplatform serves as a suitable gathering place for the fabric before 1treatment and protects it against soiling and other injury, due tocontact with parts other than the conduit.

In Figure 2 the fabric, after its passage over guide members 20 and 2I,is shown as led over 2.

spreader or stretching frame 50, which may be used for stretching thefabric and also for spreading it so that it will be adapted to pass'intoa suitable pulling device (not shown), such as a pair of drawingrollers, which will furnish the x actuating force by which the fabricIII is drawn over the guide members 20 and 2I The stretching frame isshown as provided with angularly disposed portions 5 I, whereby thefabric is guided on to the wider portions of the spreader, and withinwardly turned lugs 52 pivotally disposed in ears 24 located on theupper guide member 2I. This results in a construction whereby thespreader may be readily removed for which purpose it is made of slightlyyielding or resilient material and it will also be observed that thepivotal mounting permits tilting of the spreader where this isdesirable.

The details of the construction of guide members 20 and 2I and theadjustable collars 32 and so that it may be passed over the conduit I Iand seated in place on the adjustable collar 32. The opening 28 is madelarge enough so that it will pass over the cap: I6, which will insureready removal of the member 20 and its replacement by similar othermembers of various sizes and shapes.

The collar 32, as illustrated, is composed of two complementary portions34 and 35 which are adjustably held together by screws 42 passing freelythrough holes 40 in ears 39 on part 35 and into threaded openings 31 onears 36 of part 34, this arrangement permitting adjustability of thecollar with relation to the conduit. Screws 44, corresponding in numberand location to the keyholes 26 in guide member 20, are positioned inthe collar 32, so that the member 20 may be removably mounted on collar32 by passing the enlarged portions of its key-holes over the heads ofscrews 44 and then giving it a twist so that the narrow portions of thekey-holes pass under the screw heads. It will be understood that member20 and collar 32 are identical in construction with the upper guidemember 2I and collar 33, except that the member 2I carries the ears 24aforementioned for accommodating the stretcher frame.

so that theymay bereadily repl'ace'd by other guide members of diiferentsizes or different shapes or both, so that they may serve-'to guidethetubular fabric in its; course through the apparatus and cause it toshrink when said guide members are small in dimensions in relation tothe tubular fabric or tostretch when their dimensions are greater thanthe dimensions of the fabric; Instead of being circular, the guidemembers may be given other shapes, so as to affect the forming of thefabric, and said guide members are furthermore adjustable on saidconduit by the screws 42 provided on the adjustable collars.

By making the conduit II of suitable dimensions, great variation in thelength of the treating chamber, which is formed by the space between theguiding members 20 and 2|, may be achieved, so that by spacing them agreat distance apart, a large area of the tubular fabric may be exposedfor treatment at one. time, and the time of treatment for a given lengthof fabric correspondingly shortened. To further increase theeffectiveness of an enlarged chamber, I may use a greater number ofapertures I 4 than are illustrated and these may be distributed alongthe conduit.

The operation of this embodiment of my invention will now be described.The guide members 20 and 2i together with spreader 5i] are first of allremoved, either by opening split collars 32 and 33, or by removing 20and 2| from their seats on the collars, and the tubular fabric is placedover the conduit II and gathered in collapsed form over the platform 60.This is indicated at the bottom of Figure 2. Parts 20, 2I and Si! maynow be replaced, 20 and 2I being placed on opposite sides of theapertures, and spaced from each other so as to give a treating chamberof the desired length. The end of the fabric is next drawn over theseparts and inserted into the pulling device. The treating fluid is thenadmitted into the treating chamber and the pulling apparatus broughtinto action to draw the fabric through the apparatus and thereby exposeits entire length to the treatment.

In Figure 3 is shown a modified form of my invention in which all partscorresponding to those of the form of Figure 1, have been numberedsimilarly, except that each numeral has been primed. This form differsfrom the preceding one in having, in addition to the features of theother form, a pipe 90 entering the conduit at one side thereof, butpreferably below the platform 69', so as not to come into contact withthe fabric and interfere with the treating operation,

by means of which a second treating fluid may be introduced into theconduit II either alternatively to or simultaneously with the fluidcoming through I3. Figure 3 also shows a valve 9| to control the fluidin pipe 90 and a valve 92 to control the fluid in pipe I3. By the use ofthese valves, mixtures of the two fluids in any desired proportion, maybe effected.

In Figures 5 and 6 is shown a modification of the discharge openings I4of Figures 1 and 2.

The modified discharge openings are here indicated by the numeral I4. Inthis modification each opening I4" is the outlet of a short tube 80mounted in the walls of the conduit H. When a fluid such as steam isdischarged, the temperature of which is higher than that of the walls ofthe conduit or of the air surrounding the conduit It"; therewill be atendency forthe steam: to cool and to condense on the walls of theconduit, whereas, the steam in the' interior portions of'the conduitwill: maintain its temperature. By using the pipes 80, the steam comingout of'the orifices I4 will be the hotter and drier steam fromtheinter-ior portions of the con.-

diiit, while-the condensed steam will collect on the' walls: of theconduit from which it may be removed by any suitable drainage provision,as will be. obvious to those skilled: in the art, it being believedunnecessary to describe such arrangement in detail. It will thus beevident that I provide a separating or filtering action by which themoisture content of a treating fluid may be controlled at the point ofdelivery.

In Figure 7 I have attempted to illustrate modified form of the member20.

When it is desired to shrink a tubular fabric, say one having a diameterof 26", to a diameter of 20", it will be evident that the member 20 mustnot exceed 20 in diameter. On the other hand if member 26 is made 20 indiameter and the fabric passing over it is 26" in diameter, it will beobvious that the treating fluid can escape through the space between thetwo instead of passing through the fabric.

To avoid this, I may use, in place of the member 20, a member I20provided with an upstanding annular portion having a channel I22 andbeaded surfaces I23 on either side thereof. A resilient member I24,shown by way of illustration as a coiled spring under suitable tensionis disposed in the channel I22 and serves to keep the fabric III, as itpasses between spring I24 and the member I20, in contact with thesurface of said member, with a pressure sufficient to prevent leakage.The member I20 may be mounted removably on a split collar I32,corresponding to collar 32, this construction being similar to thatshown for 20 and 32.

It is to be understood that the surface of channel I22 and of beads I23will be made smooth and of as small area as possible so as to reducefriction to as small a value as possible, and that the surface of thespring I24 will also be restricted and made smooth for the same purpose.

While I have described this modified form of end member as alternativeto member 20, it will be understood that it may also be used, withsuitable modifications, in place of member 2|, and that either end orboth ends of the treating chamber may be provided with this modifiedform of end member.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claimas new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. For use with apparatus for treating tubular fabrics, having atreating chamber, the outer walls of which are constituted by thetubular fabric to be treated, and having a conduit for supplyingtreating fluid to the chamber, a split collar adjustably mounted on theconduit and carrying removably mounted thereon means for guiding thetubular fabric, said means constituting one of the ends of said chamber.

2. For use with apparatus for treating tubular fabrics, having atreating chamber, the outer walls of which are constituted by thetubular fabric to be treated, and having a conduit for supplyingtreating fluid to the chamber, a collar comprising two complementarysections separably and adjustably related and adjustably mounted on theconduit and carrying, removably mounted thereon, means for guiding thetubular fabric, said means constituting one of the ends of said chamber.

3. In treating apparatus for tubular fabrics, a conduit for conducting atreating fluid, said conduit being provided with at least one aperturefor the discharge of said fluid, the entrance portions of said aperturesbeing in the form of tubular members projecting horizontally from theinner walls of said conduit, whereby they are positioned so as to opposethe entrance and flow therethrough of particles of fluid moving downwardunder the action of gravity.

4. A device for treating tubular fabrics comprising, in combination, aconduit, a pair of members secured to the conduit over the peripheraledges of which the tubular fabric is drawn, at least one of the membersbeing adjustably secured so as to vary the distance between the members,and a spreader attached to one of the members, over which the fabric islikewise drawn.

MAURICE M. KASANOF.

